A Lily Among Brambles

Reflecting on Song of Songs 1:12-2:2

Within the first large section of the Song (1:2—2:7), we will reflect on 1:12—2:2. These eight verses contain back-and-forth speeches between the woman and the man. The sequence goes like this:

• She Speaks (1:12-14)

• He Speaks (1:15)

• She Speaks (1:16—2:1)

• He Speaks (2:2)

The setting is intimate, and the context is covenantal. The covenantal aspect is evident in 2:3–7 (which we will examine next time), where she speaks with sexual desire and delight.

So, what’s going on with the back-and-forth speeches in 1:12—2:2?